March

Grace turned 1 on March 8th!  Impossible!  

Opening her 1st birthday present--a gift from the girls who watch her at the gym.

 

Enjoying a light snack of tree bark in the backyard.

We celebrated with a nice little family celebration at home (translation: Despite various well-meaning Pinterest Pins, Mom totally dropped the ball on her only little girl's first birthday bash).  Luckily, Grace didn't seem to mind.  

Though she was suspicious of the cake at first, she quickly put aside her fears and went to work.

You could say she became rather immersed in the whole process.

Grace has acquired many fantastic talents and tastes during her brief sojourn here on Earth so far.  She seems to enjoy playing with pots and pans, baths (selectively), bananas (also selectively) and zeroing in on the single most life-threatening object in the room and demanding to play with it.  She's recently started signing "More" and "All Done".  I've noticed that whenever she's crying because I'm doing something horrible, like, oh I don't know, changing her diaper or giving her an unwanted bath, she'll stopped crying briefly and say "Ahhh Gaaah", and sign "All done" just in case I didn't understand her accent. 

She occasionally likes to unwind by relaxing in the TV console.

Or by enjoying a nice meal.

Sometimes she just likes to nap in an incredibly comfortable-looking position in her bouncy chair.

She can often be found practicing her chops on Dad's drum pad in an overly full diaper.

 

She is straight-up hilarious and honestly the most easy-going baby I've ever met.  Not to say she doesn't know how to squeal when she's not being obeyed quickly enough--for the love of everything holy, I NEVER knew they could make sounds so sound-barrier-burstingly high.  She still naps like a dream, though (Thank you, Lord.)  Love this girl--just adore her.  Her "official" 1 year doctor's stats (taken May 6, 2013, so a bit late, actually) are Height: 31 3/4 in" and 22 lbs 3.3oz. 

A week later, wouldn't you know it, Jacob decides to go and turn 3.  Its going to be seriously sweet here for the next few years when we can totally smoosh Jake and Grace's birthday parties together and they won't even realize they're being shafted.  This year, Jake's shindig was in the park with his bestest besty, Zander and some other little friends.  Cupcakes and pizza and bubbles and balloons = insanely hyper but relatively happy children.  

Here's a picture of Jacob yelling at his cupcakes.

Look closely at this picture. 

Random picture of Grace enjoying her very first Kool-aid.

This boy was extremely excited about his presents.  He was screaming at full voice after opening each one.  Thank you, dollar store, for your apparently amazing toy choices.

Some interesting things that Jacob does:

1) Insists on two songs every night before bed

2) Loves to play starfall.com

3) Is devastated when Stevie or David beat him at ANYTHING

4) Loves to play with Sissy, and has absolutely no inhibitions about shoving her or smacking

her upside the head.

5) Ditto #4 for his brothers

6) Has whined quite constantly since turning 3.  Very emotional all of the sudden.

7) Uses unnaturally big works like "actually" and "antagonizing"

He's an outstanding addition to the Grundberg clan.  We're anxious to see what new antics he'll bring to the table.

MUSICAL ENDEAVORS

I had a few noteworthy musical adventures in May as well, including my 2nd ever voice student recital (which went surprisingly well), and the production of our first ever annual Stake Easter Program.  The Easter Program took a TON of planning, but turned out beautifully.  I even had a solo in the song "There Is a Balm of Gilead", which was a bit nerve-wracking, but fun just the same.  We had oodles of talented singers and musicians help put it together, and while I was glad when it was over, I truly enjoyed the process.

Stevie performed in his 2nd grade Musical program in March as well.  It was very cute (as always).  I don't know why seeing your son sing and gesticulate simultaneously is so endearing, but it truly is.

With his good pal, Elle.

Stevie reminding us that even at school, he totally rocks.

At the end of March, Uncle Adam and Cousin Jack came down for a visit!  It was an absolute madhouse, which can be seen in this picture:

We all went down to Sea Wolf Park in Galveston and had fun climbing all over the submarines.

Dr. StrangeLove

We also celebrated Easter Eve Eve as a family (since Adam was planning on leaving on Easter

Sunday) and it was really lovely.  So nice to have almost everyone together.  Though it is

almost impossible to get a picture where everyone is looking normal...or even semi-normal.

Case in point.

 I adore my brother Adam.  He and I have a very similar sense of humor, and I always laugh my

head off when he's around. Little Jackson in a ring-tail-tooter, and my boys had a great

time playing with him.  Adam's had a tough year, and I've hated the fact that he's been far

away in Utah this whole time.  But I was glad to have him close to home, if only just for a

few days.

EASTER

We dyed Easter eggs (in a mad rush--honestly we almost forgot all about them) on Saturday

night.  I'm not sure why it's so satisfying, but it really is.

We had our usual ward Easter program that went beautifully, and then afterwards we found

that the Easter bunny had graciously waited until after church to hide the eggs. 

And wouldn't you know, Gracie started walking for the first time during the hunt!  She's

been clomping around like a baby Godzilla ever since.

I love this picture!  Everyone looks so incredibly triumphant!

Posing with Grandpa in his dapper light Easter suit!

Grace was apparently through with all this picture-taking nonsense.

And THAT, my friends, was the end to a very busy month.

February - Father/Son Campout

Aside from our fantastic Valentine's Day Celebrations this February, the men in the family were able to rough it up at the Father/Son Campout.  The campout is held every year at Pine Gully park in Seabrook, which oddly enough isn't necessarily a camping park, but the city of Seabrook allows the church to host the camp out there every year. 

The boys were all duly bundled up (as it was actually pretty frosty out--for Texas anyway).  Jacob was thrilled by the whole event.  (I swear he's not wearing lipstick---his lips are just naturally crazy red).

Handsome Steven in front of the campfire.

Jacob getting a little tuckered out around dinnertime.  (I've also noticed that he's carrying that root beer in almost every picture that Steve took of him.  He looks like a little hobo).

It definitely got colder as the night progressed, and the boys snuggled up around the fire.  

Jacob didn't make it too long--he fell asleep long before the nightly festivities were over).

Steve reported an absolutely miserable night of sleeping for himself, with the fellas waking him up every few minutes to use the bathroom.  I guess after a certain age sleeping on the hard ground isn't as tantalizing as it used to be.

Jacob grinning hardily while eating the provided breakfast (notice the root beer is still there.  No wonder he peed so much during the night!!)

The stake breakfast is notoriously gross, but my boys seemed to like it just fine.

I remember the night of the camp out, I was so excited to have a 'Girls Night" with just Grace and me.  I had planned on eating an early dinner, and spending the rest of the night catching up on season 3 of Downton Abbey.  Much to my dismay, neither Hulu OR Netflix had season 3 out yet!  Quite a disappointment, and I have yet to watch season 3.  I ended up falling asleep by 9am and waking up at 6:30!!  The boys were all home by 9:30, so both Steven and I had our whole Saturday to complain about our evenings. One of us, however, was noticeably more well-rested than the other...

January

Alright, time for a catch-up, and yes, I'm starting all the way back where I stopped before.

January was extremely momentous (to me, at any rate) due to my wonderful little boy's
lightning-speed potty-training.  Many years had passed since my endeavors with David, and I
was starting out with Jake even younger (not quite 3).  Much to my surprise, Jacob picked up
potty-training like a champ.  We just took away the diapers, put on the 'big boy underwear'
and after an educational accident or two, Jakie had it down.  Thank goodness.  Two in
diapers is quite an adventure.  It's happy and sad at the same time---happy because (of
course) I have lest direct contact with you-know-what but sad because, well, seeing them in
diapers makes you able to pretend they're still babies.  In his little undies, Jacob
definitely has passed the threshold from toddler-hood to honest-to-goodness little boy.

My boys' elementary school randomly celebrated 'Rodeo Day' at school (I shouldn't say
randomly--it was a shameless plug to get the kids to drag their parents to the Houston Stock
Show.  I do love a good rodeo, but I don't love the price tag).  Anyway, for some reason it
was EXTREMELY important to both of them that they were dressed accordingly this year.  So
after some last minute scrounging, we were able to rustle up (hahaha) some western-y outfits
that satisfied them both.  

With neighborhood friend, Connor

Jacob didn't know why everyone was dressing up, but darnit all, he
was going to wear a costume too.

January is also when our little Grace decided to start standing up for the first time.  We got the whole thing on film, of course, as can be seen here with her dadd (who is for some reason very sweaty and wearing his t-shirt inside-out).  

MONSTER BABY!

Twist and Shout!

 

HA HA!  I'VE DONE IT AGAIN!

I would like to say (in a forum that I think is appropriate)...

that I hope my love and acceptance is never conditionally based on the life decisions people make.  What's right for me may not be right for others, and I recognize that my perspective isn't the only one that's valid.  Thank goodness God knows each heart perfectly and is the only one who can accurately interpret our motives and choices.  I'm feeling grateful that all I've been ask to do is love God and love my neighbor (which is a big enough task for me as it is).

That's not to say that I don't have my likes and dislikes.

I just really hate the idea of condemning an entire group of people (gay, straight, christian, muslim, democrat, republican, atheist, etc,) strictly because of some preconceived, generalized and/or possibly even incorrect notions I may have about them.

Now if they just happen to individually be a jerk---well, I'm working on the 'love thy neighbor' part.

Our Laid-Back New Year's

For the first time in a long time, the Grundbergs just hung around the house for New Year's Eve.  We haven't done that in at least 5 years.  Both Steven and I were just too dang tired after Christmas madness to do anything but take it easy with the family.  That's not to say we didn't have a teensy bit of celebratory fun.

At midnight, we popped poppers and did our traditional noise-making and screaming to the neighbors.

Followed by a sedate glass of Martinelli's to ring in the New Year.

Maybe not so sedate.

Gracie looking a tad disapproving at our raucous behavior.

But she wasn't above taking a sip or two herself.

A rather homely-looking (but sweet) New Year's Eve kiss.

While I'm At It - Belated Christmas Post

Right after opening our "Christmas Eve Gift" - our traditional new pajamas.

Christmas morning - the mayhem!!

Stevie's packed stocking!

Gracie amidst the madness.

Stevie looking pretty boss on his brand new bike (thanks, Santa)!

David cruising on his new bike as well.

Even little Jake got his first big boy bike!

Last Year's Christmas Card Outtakes

I was looking through our pictures the other day and came across these beauties.  They were too fantastic to pass up.